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THE BEES AND WASPS, AND THE HORNET

[98] A STORE of honey had been
found in a hollow tree, and the
Wasps declared positively that it
belonged to them. The Bees were
just assure that the treasure was
theirs. The argument grew very
pointed, and it looked as if the
affair could not be settled without a battle, when at last, with
much good sense, they agreed
to let a judge decide the matter.
So they brought the case before
the Hornet, justice of the peace
in that part of the woods.

When the judge called the
case, witnesses declared that they
had seen certain winged creatures
in the neighborhood of the hollow
tree, who hummed loudly, and
whose bodies were striped, yellow
and black, like Bees.

Counsel for the Wasps immediately insisted that this
description fitted his clients exactly.

Such evidence did not help
Judge Hornet to any decision, so
he adjourned court for six weeks
to give him time to think it over.
When the case came up again,
both sides had a large number of
witnesses. An Ant was first to
take the stand, and was about to
be cross-examined, when a wise
old Bee addressed the Court.

"Your honor," he said, "the
case has now been pending for six
weeks. If it is not decided soon,
the honey will not be fit for
anything I move that the Bees
and the Wasps be both instructed
to build a honey comb. Then
we shall soon see to whom the
honey really belongs."

The Wasps protested loudly.
Wise Judge Hornet quickly understood why they did so: They
knew they could not build a honey
comb and fill it with honey.

"It is clear," said the judge,
"who made the comb and who
could not have made it. The
honey belongs to the Bees."